Shaft holder and seat



Dec. 10, 1968 A. 'r. ZAGWYN 3,415,572 I SHAFT HOLDER AND SEAT Filed March a. 1967 iizz/ezzfan e y ,@.%m, M

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United States Patent 3,415,572 SHAFT HOLDER AND SEAT Anthony T. Zagwyn, Delavan, Wis., assignor to Ajay Golf Products Incorporated, Delavan, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 620,126 7 Claims. (Cl. 297192) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible stool with clips for securing golf club shafts to the legs of the stool, so that the stool may serve as a club carrier. The clips are generally bracket-shaped lengths of spring wire.

BACKGROUNDSUMMARYDRAWINGS The present invention relates to a collapsible stool having a plurality of shaft-holding clips. While the clips are useful in a number of applications, for example the display or storage of shafts against a wall, they have particular utility as a means for securing golf club shafts to the legs of a collapsible stool. In this manner, the stool may serve both as a seat and as a golf club carrier.

Conventional carriers for golf clubs, and particularly those carriers which have heretofore been designed to serve as stools, have either been unduly complex or have failed to provide reliable securing of the clubs.

The present invention provides a stool having a simple clip which may be formed inexpensively from a single length of spring wire and which provides a firm securing contact with the club shaft over a relatively substantial portion of the length of the shaft. The clip is generally bracket-shaped, having a short pair of feet joined by a relatively long body. The dimensions and angular configuration of the clip are such that, when a shaft is laid across the feet, the central portion of the body overlies the, shaft in a firmly gripping relationship; in this way, the shaft is snugly held between the feet and the central portion of the body and against the structure to which the clip is attached. The body additionally includes, at its central portion, an arcuate portion which is curved away from the shaft, thus providing a convenient means for relieving the holding force of the clip on the shaft.

The invention will be more fully understood by con sidering the following description, with illustrative reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to that in FIGURE 2, wherein the device is in a collapsed configuration; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken about the line 4-4 in FIGURE 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGURE 1, there is shown a golf club carrier and seat generally denoted by the reference numeral 10. The carrier includes a pair of U-shaped frames and 30. The frame 20 has a pair of substantially parallel legs 22 and 23 joined by a top portion 21; similarly, the frame 30 has legs 32 and 33 joined by top portion 31. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the frame 30 is dimensioned such that it will fit within the confines of the frame 20 when the carrier 10 is in collapsed configuration. The frames 20 and 30 are preferably formed from metallic tubing. The legs 22, 23, 32 and 33 are respectively fitted with protective shoes 24, 25, 34 and 35, which may be formed of rubber, plastic or other suitable material.

3,415,572 Patented Dec. 10, 1968 The frames 20 and 30 are hingedly joined by means of an axle member 40 which passes through suitable aperatures the legs 23, 33, 32 and 22. A washer 42, through which the axle member 40 passes, is positioned between the legs 32 and 22 and serves as a bearing and separating means; similarly, a washer 43 is positioned between the legs 23 and 33. The washers 42 and 43 may be of rubber, plastic or other suitable material. The axle member 40 is provided with stops 41 and 44 to prevent disengagement of the frames 20 and 30. It will be understood, of course, that the mechanism for joining the frames 20 and 30 is exemplary only, and any other suitable means for permitting relative rotatable movement between the frames may be employed.

The axle member 40 serves also as a support for a cylindrical carrying case or bag 16 which is hung from the axle member by a loop 17. The bag 16, which is provided with a slide fastener 18, may be used to carry golf balls and other gear. The bag 16 may be formed from canvas, vinyl or other suitable materials.

As best seen in FIGURES 1 through 3, a foldable seat member 60 is disposed between the top portions 21 and 31 of the frames 20 and 30, and is secured thereto by loop portions 61 and 62. To provide hand-holds for transporting the carrier 10 in its collapsed configuration, the seat member 60 is cut away adjacent the top portions 21 and 31 so that the hand may be extended fully around the top portions. The seat member 60 may be of canvas, vinyl or other suitable material.

The carrier 10 is provided with a plurality of shaft holding clips 50. As best shown in FIGURE 1, a golf club 11, having a shaft 12, a head 14 and a grip 15, is secured by one of the clips 50.

FIGURE 4 shows a typical clip and illustrates in detail the relationship of the clip to the club shaft 12 and to the legs 32 and 33 of the frame 30. As shown therein, the clip 50 is generally bracket-shaped, having a pair of substantially parallel feet 51 and 52 joined by a body portion 53. The feet 51 and 52 have threaded portions 56 and 57 which pass through suitable aperatures in the legs 32 and 33, respectively. Restraining nuts 58 serve to prevent withdrawal of the feet 56 and 57 from the legs 32 and 33. The feet 51 and 52 extend from the legs 32 and 33 a distance sufficient to allow the placement of a club shaft 12.

The body portion 53 of the clip 50 is formed in a very shallow V-shape. As best seen in FIGURE 1, the central portion 54 of the body 53 lies slightly above the plane of the threaded portions 56 and 57 of the feet 51 and 52. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the central portion 54 also lies slightly inwardly from a plane connecting the outward ends of the feet 51 and 52. This configuration of the body 53 permits the club shaft 12 to be readily snapped into place so that the shaft lies across the feet 51 and 52. When this is done, the central portion 54 overlies the shaft 12 and firmly grips it so that the shaft is held snugly between the body 53 and the feet 51 and '52 against the legs 32 and 33.

It should be noted that the central portion 54 of the body 53 includes an arcuate portion which is curved away from the'sha'ft 12. The arcuate portion 55 provides a convenient means for relieving the gripping engagement of the body 53 on the shaft 12. When downward pressure is exerted on the arcuate portion 55, the shaft 12 pops upward and is thus freed from the confines of the clip 50.

Although the present invention involves the use of the clip 50in combination with carrier-seat devices of the type illustrated, the clip 50 may also be employed in other applications. For example, the feet 51 and 52 could be attached to a pegboard against a wall, thus providing a very convenient display or storage rack for golf clubs. This is but one example of the many applications which would naturally occur to those skilled in the art and which would be within the scope of the claimed invention.

Although an embodiment constructed in accordance with the present invention has been described with the requisite particularity, the disclosure is of course only exemplary. Consequently, numerous changes in details of construction, in size, configuration and arrangement of components and materials, and in modes of application will be apparent to those familiar with the art and may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a collapsible stool, and a plurality of generally bracket-shaped clip members each formed from resilient wire and each comprising a pair of substantially parallel feet joined by a body formed in a shallow V-shape, one of said feet being attached to a first leg of said stool and the other of said feet being attached to a second leg of said stool which second leg is positionally fixed with respect to said first leg during collapse of said stool, the apex of said V-shape being directed away from the plane containing said feet, the dimensions and angular configuration of said clip members being such that when a cylindrical shaft is inserted between said legs and said body the central portion of said body responds to overlie said shaft in gripping relationship and resiliently maintain said shaft in contact with said feet and said legs.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said central portion of said body includes an arcuate portion curved away from said shaft.

3. A collapsible golf club carrier and stool comprising: a pair of generally U-shaped frames each having a pair of legs joined by a top portion, each of said legs of one of said frames being hingedly attached to the corresponding leg of the other of said frames; a foldable seat member attached to said top portions of said frames and extending therebetween; and a plurality of generally bracket-shaped clip members, each formed from resilient wire and each comprising a pair of substantially parallel feet joined by a body formed in a shallow V-shape, one of said feet being attached to one leg of one of said frames and the other of said feet being attached to the other leg of said one of said frames so that said body extends between said legs substantially normally thereto,

the apex of said V-shape being directed away from the plane containing said feet, the dimensions and angular configuration of said clip members being such that when a golf club shaft is inserted between said legs and said body the central portion of said body responds to overlie said shaft in gripping relationship and resiliently maintain said shaft in contact with said feet and said legs.

4. A carrier and stool as defined in claim 3, wherein said central portion of said body includes an arcuate portion curved away from said shaft.

5. A carrier and stool as defined in. claim 4, wherein said seat member is cut away adjacent said top portions to permit a hand to be extended fully around both of said top portions when said carrier and stool is collapsed.

6. A shaft retaining clip for mounting on a supporting structure, said clip being formed from resilient Wire and comprising a pair of substantially parallel feet joined by a body formed in a shallow V-shape, said feet being attached to said supporting structure, the apex of said V-shape being directed away from the plane containing said feet, the dimensions and angular configuration of said clip being such that when said shaft is inserted between said supporting structure and said body the central portion of said body responds to overlie said shaft in gripping relationship and resiliently maintain said shaft in contact with said feet and said supporting structure.

7. A clip as defined in claim 6, wherein said central portion of said body includes an arcuate portion curved away from said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,746,778 2/1930 Kilgore 21 1181 2,980,454 4/1961 Thaden 297248 2,987,109 6/1961 Sohrner 297l92 3,128,137 4/1964 Dokter 297-192 3,215,181 11/1965 Reed 211-60 3,252,434 5/1966 Young 211181 3,351,378 11/1967 Bliss 297239 FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

